A little help if you wouldn't mind

[Mr. Zarwid]

Greetings fellow board-members and Merry Christmas!

I've always wanted to radio broadcast, and I just stumbled across your site a few days ago. Needless to say I was quite excited with the prospect of the PCI MAX 2007 card.

I'm currently in college and would like to start a radio FM station from the dorm room. I would like to be able to broadcast 3-4 miles at most and would like your recommendations towards doing so efficiently and working within the constraints of the dorm. I was looking at the Comet antenna and it seems to be a good match for my location (I'm located near the heart of the city on the second floor out of three floors of my room, and with it's full height, it still gives about a foot until the ceiling.) unless there is something else that you fellows know about that would do the job better.

Not knowing much about broadcasting radio, I'd like to ask you a few questions:

1) I've read that having a 12-15 volt and 2-8 amp power supply is a must, but is it a problem if the amperage or voltage is greater?

2) For my purposes would the 1000mW or the 2000mW work better? Would I need the 1000mW at all? And therefore would I need to worry about the antenna?

3) Is there anything else that I should concern myself with or any accessories that I should consider purchasing?


Thank you so much for your help and again, Merry Christmas!

[pcs]

1.) Amperage is not important, think of it in terms of engine power.
If you have 500 horse power engine, it does not mean you're going
to drive at full throttle all the time.
So the only important thing with amperage is that you at least meet
the requirements. Exceeding it can only be good.

Voltage is another matter. Exceeding requirements there is likely
to cause damage.

2. 3-4 miles requires 15W or more.
I'd recommend something like this:
https://www.pcs-electronics.com/shop/fm ... w-and-75w/

or this to get a full package:
https://www.pcs-electronics.com/shop/fm ... -packages/

3. Get a package and you'll have most of the stuff you need. Than get
some radio scheduling software, such as SAM or jazler.

Merry Xmas!

[Mr. Zarwid]

Thank you for the quick reply Admin!

One last question if I may, transmitting from a dorm room how much would I have to worry about my signal bleeding into other people's electronics, and vice versa? (In other words, having my signal use wires for television sets and other things as an antenna and broadcasting through them.) Is there anyway to stop this if this is a problem?

Thank you again,

Mr. Zarwid

[pcs]

You can't use tv cables for your radio. You need to pull your own
cable from transmitter to antenna. If you can place antenna far away
you'll be fine. However, if placed in your room you'll probably
overpower some FM radio stations or make them unlistenable to
your neighbors.